I-130

Petition for Alien Relative

Agency
USCIS
Revision
Edition 04/01/24
Fillable fields
450
Pages
12
Official source
USCIS form page
Checked
October 14, 2026
Fill I-130 online
Page 1 of form I-130

Form I-130: Petition for Alien Relative

Form I-130 is the first step in helping a family member immigrate. A U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident or U.S. national files it to prove a qualifying relationship with a relative, called the beneficiary, who wants to come to or stay in the United States permanently.

Filing or approving the petition does not give your relative any status. USCIS says that after approval your relative may be able to apply for a Green Card, for example with Form I-485 if they are in the United States and a visa is available, or through consular processing abroad. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens always have a visa available, while other categories wait their turn.

A separate petition is needed for each eligible relative unless the person is a derivative beneficiary listed on someone else's petition.

The title area of Form I-130 (edition 04/01/24) with the form name, agency and OMB number

What's on Form I-130

Part 1: Relationship

You say how the beneficiary is related to you.

Part 2: Information about you

Your name, A-Number if any, USCIS online account number if you have one, citizenship or residence basis, marital history and address.

Part 3: Biographic information

Ethnicity, race, height, weight, eye and hair color. Filling it in can shorten a biometrics appointment.

Part 4: Information about your beneficiary

Name, birth details, address, marital history, passport, I-94 and entry details, and Questions 61 and 62, which state whether the beneficiary will seek adjustment of status inside the United States or consular processing abroad.

Part 6: Petitioner's statement and signature

Contact details, whether an interpreter helped, and your signature.

Parts 7 to 9: Interpreter, preparer and additional information

Certifications for anyone who helped you read or complete the petition, plus extra space for longer answers.

How to fill out Form I-130

  1. 1

    Use the current edition and write clearly

    Type or print in black ink, and keep the edition date and page numbers visible on every page of a printed copy. Answer every question. Write N/A where a question does not apply and None for a zero.

    The bottom of a Form I-130 page showing the edition date 04/01/24 and page number
  2. 2

    Complete Part 1 and Part 2

    Name the relationship, then give your own details. A USCIS online account number only exists if you previously filed something with a receipt number starting IOE.

    Parts 1 and 2 of Form I-130 being filled, with N/A written where a question does not apply
  3. 3

    Fill in the beneficiary's information in Part 4

    Use dates in mm/dd/yyyy form. Enter the beneficiary's physical address, since USCIS uses it when deciding where an approved petition goes.

    Part 4 of Form I-130 with the beneficiary's physical address entered in the address fields
  4. 4

    Select exactly one of Question 61 or 62

    Choose adjustment of status in the United States or consular processing abroad. Do not complete both and do not leave the section blank.

    Question 61 of Form I-130 where the USCIS office city is entered for adjustment of status, filled with a sample city
  5. 5

    Add Form I-130A for a spouse

    A petition for a spouse must include Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. This page lets you fill the form online free, then print it for your signature.

    Part 1 of Form I-130 with the Spouse box checked, the case that needs Form I-130A added
  6. 6

    Sign Part 6 yourself

    A stamped or typed name is not accepted. A parent or legal guardian may sign for a petitioner under 14.

    The petitioner's signature and date lines in Part 6 of Form I-130 with a sample signature entered

Why fill Form I-130 on indox

You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.

  • Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
  • Free to fill and free to download, with no account
  • The official blank straight from the USCIS, not a copy someone retyped
  • Works on a phone, tablet or computer

Where to file, evidence and fees

Filing options

File online through a USCIS account or on paper. The mailing location depends on where you live and whether your relative is filing Form I-485 at the same time. USCIS changed the filing location on Oct. 7, 2026, with a grace period to Nov. 9, 2026, so check its direct filing addresses page.

Fee

The fee is on the USCIS Fee Schedule page, which can change. Check it on the day you file.

Proof of your status

A U.S. birth certificate, naturalization or citizenship certificate, Form FS-240, an unexpired U.S. passport, or a consular statement. Permanent residents send both sides of the Green Card.

Proof of the relationship

A spouse petition needs the marriage certificate, proof that prior marriages ended, two passport-style photos of you and your spouse, and evidence the marriage is real, such as joint property, a shared lease or children's birth certificates. Child and parent petitions need birth certificates.

Translations and copies

Send photocopies unless told to send originals, and include a full English translation with the translator's certification for any foreign-language document.

Common mistakes

Missing required fields in Parts 1, 2 and 4 leads to rejection, as does a missing signature. Another mistake is leaving both Question 61 and 62 blank or filling in both.

Related forms

Who needs to fill out Form I-130?

  • U.S. citizens

    A citizen can file for a spouse, unmarried children under 21, unmarried sons and daughters 21 or older, married sons and daughters of any age, brothers and sisters (the petitioner must be 21 or older), and a mother or father (also 21 or older).

  • Lawful permanent residents

    A permanent resident can file for a spouse, an unmarried child under 21, and an unmarried son or daughter 21 or older. There is no visa category for married children of permanent residents, and a marriage before immigrating leads to denial or revocation.

  • Non-citizen U.S. nationals

    The instructions give them the same rights as permanent residents to petition for family. They mark themselves as a lawful permanent resident in Part 2 and need not list an A-Number.

  • Who may not file

    The instructions list cases where a petition cannot be filed, such as for a grandparent, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin or in-law parent, or for a spouse where the marriage was entered to evade immigration law.

Official sources and the blank

Do it all with indox

View all 123 tools

Questions about Form I-130

Does an approved I-130 make my relative a permanent resident?

No. USCIS says approval does not give your relative any status or the right to immigrate immediately. They still need a visa to be available and then apply for a Green Card.

Can I file one I-130 for my whole family?

No. A separate petition is needed for each relative, unless a person qualifies as a derivative beneficiary listed in Part 4 of a petition for a married child, adult child or sibling.

Can I file the I-130 online?

Yes, USCIS offers online filing through a USCIS account. Check the forms-available-online page to confirm your situation is covered.

What if my relative's plans change from adjustment to consular processing?

If the petition is pending, contact USCIS. After approval, the right step depends on where the petition currently is, and the USCIS page has a chart.

Do I need Form I-130A?

Yes, if you are petitioning for a spouse. Your spouse completes and signs it, though a spouse who is overseas does not have to sign.